Page 80 of Miss Humbug
The house still held so many personal memories but had changed enough to feel like a space that no longer belonged to me. The front parlor now housed kid-friendly tables and chairs, a bright, durable rug, and a comfy, modular couch. The library’s broken doors had been removed and left open for accessibility. The built-in shelves were partly filled by books, board games, and puzzles. Many shelves sat bare, waiting to be filled once we grew our funding. Grans’ office now functioned as a first-floor bedroom with a widened doorway for wheelchair access.
The dining hall held our family table, donated by Grans. The thing was massive. A lighter shade of wall paint added a brightness to the room.
Ethan hooked into my arm and steered me into the kitchen, where a section of wall no longer existed for wider access to the hall and back sitting room.
He spoke low into my ear. “I have good memories of this room. A vision of you dusted in flour.”
I swatted him. “That was so embarrassing. For me.”
“Was it? I thought it was hot.”
I took in a sharp breath of air. “Ithought it was hot.” I’d never admitted it to him. “You stood so close I could only hold my breath as you wiped the smeared flour off my face. I think that’s when I knew you were the one.”
“Is that right?” He smoothed a hand against his trimmed beard. “I’m a real charmer in the kitchen.”
I stole a quick kiss before anyone else came into the room. “That you are, Sawyer. Maybe I’ll use it my vows.”
Ethan stilled. “Your...vows?”
I grinned. “Okay, our vows.”
He gawked at me.
“I’m giving you sufficient notice in case you have a Christmas Eve proposal in the works. Or Christmas Day?” I loved watching him squirm. We’d already discussed an engagement, so it wasn’t as if the topic hadn’t been brought up. The logistics of coordinating an engagement plus timing the wedding for the least busy but still optimal time of year gave me plenty to plan for. After seeing how my BFF Anna, now married in California, had organized an incredible outdoor wedding in six months, I had my work cut out for me. Best to get ahead of the game.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Christmas proposal kind of gal,” he said in a careful tone.
“Creating new memories this time of year seemed like an idea you’d be into.”
“True. But you don’t like the holidays. The last thing—”
I pressed a finger to his lips. “Remember what I said at New Year’s? I’m wiping the slate clean. No more humbuggery.”
He smooched my finger before I removed it. “You already grumbled about the town’s Christmas decorations going up the day after Halloween.”
“Obviously. That’s criminally early.”
“Not for the second most popular Christmas destination in the state.”
“Look, I didn’t once complain about the Christmas in July stuff,” I pointed out.
We progressed to the back family room. A Christmas tree stood by the window, courtesy of Sawyer and Sanderson Farms. Ethan brought it over two days ago. We’d decorated the tree with white lights and snowflake ornaments. The rest of the tree would be filled in by handmade ornaments the kids planned to make during the first open session at Hollybrooke.
The room bustled with people. Gone from the mantle was our family portrait, now hung at Ashe and Cara’s. The old clock in the corner had moved into storage until Grans’ condo was ready to move into. She stayed with Uncle Joe and Aunt Sunny in the meantime.
Mayor Bennington approached. “Marlowe, will we see you at the Tasty Bake this year?”
A nervous laugh escaped. “Actually, I’m partnering with the Sawyers and Sandersons for their event at the farm. They expanded it with three food trucks this year, and more activities. My talents are best used outside of baking competitions. Or holiday obstacle courses.”
The farm was on its way to meet Ethan’s expansion plan. Trees took years to grow, so the merger with the Sanderson farm wouldn’t yield new trees for a while. After securing a loan for upgrades, together with the Sandersons, Ethan reconfigured the front of the Sawyer property by the road for more streamlined traffic flow and parking. They hauled away the trailer office and constructed a new outbuilding with offices in the back. Built to look like a small barn, it served as a storefront for holiday decorations, farm branded T-shirts and other merch, and Ethan’s woodwork. The store would stay open year-round. Meanwhile, they used the existing barn to create a larger woodworking area.
Most importantly, those pesky borrowed acres had new signatures on the deed, now belonging to Sawyer and Sanderson Farms.
“I’ll be sure to visit the farm this season.” Mayor Bennington glanced between us with a knowing smile. “It sounds like town square will be less…dramatic this season.”
I spun to Ethan with my eyes widened after the mayor moved on. “See?” I whisper shouted. “People never forget!”
He held up a hand. “I swear, all family shenanigans will occur off of public property.”
